Electric light socket



Dec. 12, 1939. A. WOLF 2,183,377

ELECTRIC IJIGH'I' SOCKET Fil'ed Dec. 16, 1937 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 12,19:39

nmc'rmc LIGH'l. socim'r Abraham Wolf, New York, N. Y., assignor to NomaElectric Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication December 16, 1937, Serial No. 180,085

' 11' Claims. (01. 240-10) This invention relates to portable electriclighting. outfits of the type used for Christmas tree ornamentation andfor similar illuminated display purposes. More particularly, myinvention relates to an improved construction for the electric lightsockets used' with such lighting outfits.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an electric lightsocket construction of the character described, having .novel means forattaching said sockets to a branch of a Christmas tree, or to any othersupport.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric light socket ofthe character described and novel mounting means therefor, which shallcomprise relatively few and simple parts, which shall be economical tomanufacture, easy to assemble and which at the same time shall be highlyeflicient for the purposes intended.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of.

this invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of anelectric light socket of the typeused in Christmas tree lighting outfits and embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the socket only,

shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the Fig. 3 form of socket;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the supporting member onlyshown in Fig. 1;-

, Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly sectional, of a socketillustrating a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a bottom view'of the Fig. 6 form of socket;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the supporting member only,shown in Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 9 is an elevational view similar to Fig. -1but illustrating another modified form of my invention;

Fig. 10- is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line Ill-l0 ofFig. 9; and 1 Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view'of the supportingmember only, shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

parallel to the axis of the shell.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 to 5,there isshown an a electric light socket of the type well known in theart, used on Christmas tree or similar portable display lightingoutfits, and provided with a husk 20, of. insulating material and lamp2| and suitable lead wires 22 connected tothe'socket, in the manner wellknown in the art.

The outer wall of the husk 20 is provided with a relatively narrowraised portion ,23, which may be integral therewith and which may bedisposed r The longitudinal edges 23a of the portion 23 may be inwardlytapered as shown for reasons which will soon become apparent.

For attaching the socket to any support such as for example the branch Bof a Christmas tree, I have provided an attaching member 30, (see Fig.5) comprising a strip of resilient material, bent over on. itself toform two substantially parallel arms 3| and 32 interconnected by theloop 33. The arm 32 is preferably made fiat to overlie the surface ofthe portion 23, and is provided with pairs of spaced tabs or guides 34and 35, which may be formed of integral extensions bent over to define aguideway adapted to slld ably receive therein the raised portion'23,with the guides 34 and 35 snugly fitting the tapered edges 23a of saidraised portion to hold the member 30 frictionally captive on the socket.

The member 30 may be resiliently hooked over a branch B, the said branchbeing received between the arms 3| and 32. To insure a more positivegripping action of the member 30, either of the arms 3| and 32, such asfor example the arm 32 as shown, may be provided with bent over sideextensions 36 between the guides 34 and 35, the free edges of which areserrated as shown.

In Figs. 6 to'8 I have shown a modified form of my invention, in whichthe'attaching member 30', instead of having the arm 32 provided with thetabs orguides 34 and 35, is provided with a pair of continuous guides40, which are substantially contiguous with the length of the arms 32.The said guides 40 are angularly bent to conform to the tapered walls23a, and are adapted to be slidably and frictionally received on theraised ing member 50 comprises a pair of arms El and arm 52 is providedwith angularly bent over edge portions 54, provided with serrations toprovide better gripping action for the member ill. For attaching themember ill to the socket, I provide an independent relatively rigid flatmember 55, freely rotatably attached to the arm 52 by means of the pivot56. The member 55 is provided with angularly bent over longitudinaledges 51', corresponding to the tapered walls 23a of the raised portion23 and adapted to be frictionally received thereon.

It is seen from the above described construction that the member 50,after being attached to the socket, may be rotated about the pivot 58 toassume any desired angle before or after attachment to a branch.

It is also noted that the attaching members Ill, or may be applied tothe type of socket in which there is employed a bottom cap 60 which isscrewed to the husk 20 and in such position serves to prevent downwardsliding or undesired removal of the members 30, 30' or 50.

If desired, the arm.32 may be provided with one or more struck outportions defining pointed projections I0 adapted to become embedded inthe top surface of the portion 23 to prevent the downward sliding of themember 30. Also, if desired, detents H may be provided in the topsurface of the portion 23 adapted to receive the projections 10 therein.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth,it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a single longitudinal strip of resilient material bentsubstantially in half to provide a pair of arms spaced from each otherin superimposed aligned relationship adapted to grip a supporttherebetween, and means on one of said arms for slidably receivingtherein said raised husk portion.

2. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in ha1f.toprovide a pair of arms spaced from each other in superimposed alignedrelationship adapted to grip a support therebetween, and means 'on oneof said arms for slidably and frictionally receiving therein said raisedhusk portion.

3. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms adapted to grip a support therebetween, and meanson one of said arms for slidably and frictlonally receiving therein saidraised husk portion, said last named means comprising a pair ofangularly bent tabs on said arm, adapted to engage opposite edges ofsaid raised husk portion.

4. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, said raised portionbeing provided with inwardly tapered longitudinal edges. an attachingmember comprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially inhalf to provide a pair of arms adapted to grip a support. therebetween,and means on one of said arms for slidably and frictionally receivingtherein said raised husk portion, said last named means comprising apair of angular-1y bent tabs on said arm, adapted to engage said taperededges of said raised husk portion.

5. In. an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms .adapted to grip a support therebetween, and

means mom of said arms for slidably and frictionally receiving thereinsaid raised husk portion, said last named means comprising angularlybent over opposed longitudinal edges of said arm to define a guidewayfor receiving said raised portion therein.

6. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms adapted to grip a support therebetween, at leastone of said arms being provided with serrated or corrugated edges tofacilitate the gripping of said support, and means on one of said armsfor slidably receiving therein said raised husk portion.

'7. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms adapted to grip a support therebetween, at leastone of said arms being provided with serrated or corrugated edges tofacilitate the gripping of said support, and means on one of said armsfor slidably and frictionally receiving therein said raised huskportion, said last named means comprising angularly bent over opposedlongitudinal edges of said arm to define a guideway for receiving saidraised portion therein.

8. In an electric light holder, a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching memberadapted to grip a support, comprising a strip of resilient-material bentsubstantially in half to provide a pair of arms spaced from each other,and a substantially fiat member rotatably attached to one of said arms,said last name'd member being provided with angularly bent over1ongitudinal edges adapted to define a guideway for slidably andfrictionally receiving said raised husk portion therein.

9. In an electric light holder,'a husk of insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms spaced from each other in superimposed alignedrelationship adapted to grip a support therebetween, means on one ofsaid arms for slidably mounting said arm on said raised husk portion,and a bottom cap member threadedly attached to .said husk, said capmember having a portion projecting beyond the said outer surface of saidhusk in the path of said last named slidable arm, and adapted to holdsaid slidably mounted attaching member captive on said husk.

10. In an electric light holder, a huskof insulating material having aportion thereof raised above the outer surface, an attaching membercomprising a single longitudinal strip of resilient material bentsubstantially in half to provide a pair of arms spaced from each otherin superimposed aligned relationship adapted to grip a supporttherebetween, and means on one of said arms for slidably andfrictionally receiving said raised husk portion therein, and means onsaid last named arm for preventing the downward sliding movement of saidattaching member.

11. In an electric light holder, a husk of ins suiating material havinga portion thereof raised above the outer suriace, an attaching membercomprising a strip of resilient material bent substantially in half toprovide a pair of arms spaced from each other in superimposed alignedrelationship adapted to grip a support therebetween, and means on one ofsaid arms for slidably and frictionally receiving said raised huskportion therein, and means on said last named arm for preventing thedownward sliding movement of said attaching member, said last namedmeans comprising a projection struck out from said arm and adapted tocooperatively engage the material of said raised portion.

ABRAHAM WOLF)

